Maryland's highest court ruled in favor of prosecutors in the Freddie Gray cases Tuesday, ordering that Officer William Porter can be compelled to testify against his fellow officers.

The rulings sent the cases back to the lower court to resume with trials, though a timetable was unclear.

The Court of Appeals turned back Porter's request that he not be compelled to testify against Officer Caesar Goodson and Sgt. Alicia White. It also reversed Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams' order denying prosecutors' request to call Porter to testify against three other officers, Edward Nero, Garrett Miller and Lt. Brian Rice.

It was a big victory for the state, which argued that Porter's Fifth Amendment rights would not be violated by granting him immunity. His testimony at the trials can't be used at his own retrial on charges of manslaughter.

A new trial date has been set for the next officer to stand trial on charges stemming from the death of Freddie Gray.

Lt. Brian Rice, whose trial was slated to begin Wednesday, will head to trial April 13.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys asked for a postponement at a brief hearing before Baltimore Circuit Judge Charles Peters.

The postponement came hours after an appeals court ruled that Officer William Porter must testify against his colleagues while he awaits a retrial. His trial ended in a hung jury in December. The trials for the other five officers have been on hold while the appeals court made its decision.

Circuit Judge Barry Williams will set dates for the remaining officers' trials.

WASHINGTON — Maryland’s highest court on Tuesday ordered a Baltimore police officer who is charged in the death of Freddie Gray to testify for the prosecution in the trials of his fellow officers. The ruling clears the way for the state to move ahead with long-stalled prosecutions in a case that has become a touchstone in the emotional national debate over race and policing.

In a pair of simple four-paragraph orders that did not lay out the court’s reasoning, the Maryland Court of Appeals announced its decision to compel the officer, William G. Porter, to testify under a grant of limited immunity, meaning what he says cannot be used against him in his own trial. The court said the ruling would be explained in an opinion to be issued later.

As mentioned in a post back a ways... the Appeal court Judges were considering two different groups..Rice Nero Miller in one group and White Goodson in the other. Two different points of law. It seems the ruling amounts to the same for BOTH groups.... Porter MUST testify (to hell with the 5th Amendment... What dat?)

It isn't a conflict. The court can Subpeona or force testimony but it can't compel a witness who is also a defendant with pending prosecution on a related matter to incriminate themselves.

The mistrial put a serious hitch in the prosecutors plans to do a domino run against six defendants. Now it forces prosecutor to offer immunity or lose that testimony to the 5th. Happens everyday in criminal trials.

Ohh that's not gonna fly...been tried against the mob and gangs. Every time prosecutor has tried to compel more than 5th (i.e. Confirmation of unsworn statement) they have lost. Can't for life of me imagine why a prosecutor would even try.

I get that people want these defendants to be tried harshly but don't get why they can't see that any tactics effectively used against these officers are fair game against EVERY defendant in any case. SMH

ETA: Read back to see the limited immunity ...they won't use what he testifies to against other defendants against him...nooooo they can't do that. That's the domino thing SCOTUS ruled unconstitutional when they let RICO stand.

And.... they have to agree to take it... maybe STAY these trials ... again.

If there is no appeal to SCOTUS.. then there will no doubt be fireworks when Porter first testifies... I think at that point there will be another appeal to MD higher court at the least. This Circus could go on for years

_________________Do not go gentle into that good night.___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Prosecution dissatisfied with new schedule for Freddie Gray casesJustin Fenton The Baltimore Sun

A new schedule of trial dates beginning in May for the officers charged in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray was formalized at a hearing Wednesday morning, where prosecutors expressed dissatisfaction with the new lineup.

The cases have been on hold since Officer William Porter's trial in December ended with a hung jury, as competing appeals reached the state's highest court. The trials are now slated to resume on May 10, with Officer Edward Nero facing charges of second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.

Deputy Chief State's Attorney Janice Bledsoe told administrative judge Charles J. Peters that prosecutors wanted the trials to resume with Porter's retrial first. Under the approved schedule, set by Judge Barry Williams in a closed-door meeting with attorneys Tuesday, Porter's retrial is the fifth case and takes place in September.

They cant really settle on the order of trials... each one will likely effect the subsequent ones, with verdicts along the way , and perhaps appeals sought, there may well be legal argument over other defendants called as witnesses in trials of fellow officers.

_________________Do not go gentle into that good night.___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light